Blueprint for blackouts?

Electricity plays a part in almost every aspect of modern life and is vital to our economic and social wellbeing. Since privatisation in the 1980s the UK has relied on a competitive market system with independent regulation to deliver reliable electricity. However, the UK energy infrastructure is facing unprecedented challenges over the coming decades. It will lose 20GW of generation as old and highly polluting plants shut their doors. Recent figures suggest that by the end of the decade the capacity margins will be so tight that the likelihood of costly blackouts will increase.